Album Review - Peter Andre - Big Night (Andre Music)

It is easy to knock Peter Andre but whatever you think of his liaison with a certain model, his music deserves wider recognition.

His last album was a collection of pop and soul tracks that would not seem out of place on an Usher or Ne-Yo album.

His new album, Big Band sees him going down the big band route. You could say it has all been done before with Robbie Williams but Andre's heart seems to be in it and it is a shame that it might not be heard beyond his existing fans because anyone who likes a big band with a good melody would enjoy this album that has a jazz influence too.

He is to be commended for not doing any cover versions too as all the tracks are original compositions.

Most of the tracks are co-written by Andre with Steve Appleton (who recently toured as support to Sandi Thom) and they do sound good! The album opens with Big Night, it is the sort of track that you could imagine Olly Murs singing, Preach has a soulful side to it -could almost be on Paolo Nutini's new album ditto Birdy Blues which closes this surprising album.

Just a Jam continues in a soulful mode, whilst Beware is one of the best cuts on the album with its bass line that is lifted off You Can't Hurry Love (The Jam also used the same bass line on a Town Called Malice).

Don't judge a book by its cover, give the album a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

4 out of 5.